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1. Amid tensions over North Korean nuclear tests, the U.S. dispatched a top-of-the-line guided missile destroyer to Japan. The USS Mustin is equipped with sensitive missile-tracking radar. The warship and its crew of 300 sailors will be permanently assigned to the region.
2. Astronauts Piers Sellers and Michael Fossum went on their first spacewalk today. They spent several hours outside the International Space Station, conducted simulated repairs while perched at the extended end of a robotic arm. It's the first of three planned orbital excursions for the Discovery crew.
3. Pope Benedict strongly defended traditional family values during a visit to Spain. The Pontiff challenged the socialist government's reforms, including gay marriage. It's Benedict's 3rd foreign trip of his papacy.
4. "Pirates of the Caribbean" is taking in a very nice treasure and it sure isn't fool's gold. It's estimated the second film in the series earned a record 55.5 million dollars on its opening day.
WORDS IN THE NEWS
1. top of the line : noun
the best (most expensive) in a given line of merchandise
2. guided missile : n-count 导向导弹
A guided missile is a military rocket that can be directed in flight to change its flight path. In typical usage the term "missile" refers to guided rockets, and "rockets" to unguided ones. The differences between the two may be fairly minor other than the guidance system. The first missiles to be used operationally were a series of German missiles of WW2. Most famous of these are the V1 and V2, both of which used a simple mechanical autopilot to keep the missile flying along a pre-chosen route. Less well known were a series of anti-shipping and anti-aircraft missiles, typically based on a simple radio control system directed by the operator.
3. destroyer : n-count 驱逐舰
A destroyer is a small, heavily armed warship.
4. missile-tracking radar : 导弹追踪雷达
5. spacewalk : noun
a period of time that an astronaut spends in space outside a spacecraft
6. papacy : n-sing
The papacy is the position, power, and authority of the Pope, including the period of time that a particular person holds this position.
7. take in : phrasal verb
If a store, restaurant, theatre, or other business takes in a certain amount of money, they get that amount from people buying goods or services. (mainly AM BUSINESS; in BRIT, usually use take)
8. fool's gold : n-uncount, disapproval
If you say that a plan for getting money is fool's gold, you mean that it is foolish to carry it out because you are sure that it will fail or cause problems.
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